#(which is why she's a cooking teacher) . sometimes their interests intersect when it comes to like. old cooking recipes in other languages

[hyp3rfixation-h3ll]

oh theyre ABSOLUTELY autistic . sunny and zac are adhd x autism before it was even a popular shipping trope . these bad boys can hold so much mental illness in em /pos

not to spread my pac's parents propaganda here but that;s exactly what im doing. theyre the type of people who look normal and sane and then you meet them personally and theyre Actually Unhinged but in two VASTLY different ways, and they just Happened to fall in love with each other and create a third, completely New type of freak (ENDEARINGLY)

sunny is literally the (presumably younger) sibling of SPHERIA , and considering all we know about spheria it's not farfetched to assume sunny is Also , if not More of a loose cannon than her sister, and zac literally PRESERVED his wife's pacberry pie recipe in a STONE TEMPLE FOR FUCKING YEARS because he loved it SO MUCH and didnt wanna lose it in the event that something happened. theyre Both just absolutely out of their gourds and that's PRECISELY why they married each other instead of everyone else . i love middle aged yuri

I know it might sound like I'm reaching with this hc but. They're like everyone's favorite weirdos BUT ALSO ? autism. Big autism time and ESPECIALLY for Pacster. He shows too many symptoms to go unnoticed. Dude I love your headcannon fr, keeps my hyperfixation alive-

[definitelynotscott]

Dear Author for Purimgifts 2017

Hello, Friend! Do not feel bound by this letter as these are only suggestions. I’m sure I will love whatever you create! However, in case you are feeling lost and directionless in the pursuit of what to write for someone you don’t know very well, I have taken the time to write some things out that will hopefully serve as a compass to point you North. :D

General

Yes, Please. - Positive family stuff like bonding, teasing, meddling, supporting, interfering, protecting, etc. (blood relatives or found family, both are good).

Friendship stuff, I love to see friends working together and helping each other accomplish goals (big or small), also hanging out and just enjoying each other’s company, when they can exchange positive physical contact (hugging, kissing, cuddling) without it being taken as romantic/sexual that makes me happy.

I like romance too, getting together is fine, but that seems to be the most common kind, so if you wanted to do some established relationship stuff (1st-50th anniversary, going on a mission/adventure as a couple for the 1st-50th time, having/adopting a child, raising that child/children, threatening each other’s enemies, etc.) that might be kind of cool.

The trope where soulmates (platonic or romantic) have their first words written on each other’s bodies is fun, especially if one person said something either horrible or commonplace (”Hi,” “Excuse me,” you get the idea) and the other person resents it.

Cultural conflict is awesome. Things where standard behavior, action, phrasing, body language, terminology can lead to conflict, misunderstandings, etc. because they mean one thing in Culture A and something else in Culture B, I love that. (I love Janet Kagan’s books, particularly Hellspark.)

I like to laugh, sometimes at the suffering of fictional characters, but I lean more towards fluff on both the fluff/angst axis and the fluff/smut axis.

While I haven’t written much, I do tend to write what I want/like, so that can give you a clue if you’re still searching

No, Thank You. - Incest, infidelity, torture, gore, rape/non-consensual stuff, mind control, mental collapse/breakdown, teacher/student relationships, the phrase “Make me a woman!” .

Fandom Info

League of Legends

My favorite character is Lux Crownguard, and the fandom portrays her in some ways I don’t like, so I’m just going to come out and tell you what NOT to do and help you avoid accidentally spiking my blood-pressure. Basically it’s a rant about stuff you probably wouldn’t do anyway, so if you want to skip it simply remember I like her better as an awesome superspy and powerful mage than some helpless, naive princess.

*START RANT* Do not write her as stupid or foolish, she is canonically a prodigy. Bubbly and goodhearted does not equal stupid. Do not write her as helpless, she can reverse engineer spells after one viewing in a highly magical world, she is overpowered as hell. Do not write her as overly naive, she was conscripted into the army at age 13 and then served in a spy in Noxus (a place known for being violent and Darwinian, remember?). She may have managed to hold on to her innocence in some ways, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what’s what. Don’t write her as a weakling. True, she’s less buff than many champions (she is tiny and a mage) but she went through basic training, is an active member of her country’s army, and runs around wearing metal armor (less than some, but again, she’s a mage). Don’t write her as a weak-willed, submissive, shrinking violet. You cannot channel massive arcane power with a weak will, and, come on, she runs around yelling “In the name of Demacia, I will punish you!” This is a much smaller issue, but I’ve see a couple of stories where they depict Lux as a good cook, which doesn’t seem logical to me. First, she’s a noblewoman, cooking is what servants are for in their eyes. Second, she might have pulled some KP duty in the army, but that doesn’t really lend itself to gourmet cooking (”Look honey, I cooked 15 gallons of beans!” *stifled groan*). The only place I can see her learning to cook would be in Noxus, out of self preservation. And then she definitely wouldn’t advertise it. Demacia’s Lady of Luminosity can cook Noxian food but not Demacian food? How embarrassing! *END RANT*

So, now that I’ve ranted… Things you CAN do in this fandom. I mean… she’s a spy, so she’s probably thrilled when people gauge her wrong. Me, not so much. If you wanted to write something where someone underestimates her and then gets #REKT that would be juuuuuust fine.

If you’re interested in writing something family oriented, Lux and her brother Garen would be something I would enjoy, I love them both. Then, of course, there’s the Du Couteau family. If you want to write about Katarina, Cassiopeia, and Talon interacting that would be fun too!

If you’d like to write about friendship, Lux & Janna hanging out having fun, or comparing magic, or their experience as highly specialized mages would be good. Ezreal & Lux is another possibility. (They’re my NOTP though, but I’ve already ranted once this letter. Just… NO ROMANCE!) I’d love to see the two of them hang out, eat pizza, do each other’s nails, try to hook each other up with people… (romcom hijinks ensue) maybe they double-date the Blood Brothers? *shrugs*

For romance my preference is to pair Lux with Darius or Talon. I know they’re on opposite sides, but the points where they intersect are what interest me. Darius understands loyalty and service, and family, things that are important to her. Talon has more family loyalty than loyalty to his government, and they both assassin and spy aren’t such different careers (the fact that he’s The Blade’s SHADOW, and she’s all about LIGHT tickles my fancy as well). Also, see my previously expressed love for cultural conflict. That’s one reason I like Lux. As someone who understands both Demacian and Noxian culture (she understands it well enough to be an undetected spy there at least) she’s in a good position to solve or instigate some cultural incidents.

Shadow Unit

I’m very sad our time with these characters has ended, so pretty much anything would be great. I feel like the Purimgifts community could fall as much in love with Esther Falkner as I have (which is why I wrote a recommendation), so anything with her would thrill me. As previously mentioned, I like found family dynamics, so some Worth & Gates interaction would be good. Or if you wanted to write something set after the original works I’d love to see something with Nikki in her new role. Some of the Gammas, Natalie Summers-Barrington, Susannah Greenwood, or Anna Krol (especially Anna Krol!) I’d love to read about. If you like writing less fluffy stuff, Frost is always an option!

Marvel Universe

I used to read their comics a lot, and while I haven’t recently, I have a decent understanding of the general Marvel Universe background, so if you want to branch out from the fandoms I have listed go ahead!

My favorite character is Darcy Lewis, although I also love Pepper and Natasha. A story where the three of them combined their powers to save/take over the world would be awesome. Or even something less plot-y and more hanging-out-with-friends would be enjoyable. I did (ahem) write a summary for a Darcy story I’d like to see, and while it’s probably too long for a Purimgifts story XD it might give you an idea or two. If you feel like going crack-y, envision a world where Pepper Potts is a descendant of the Potts family from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Inventors are her destiny and/or inventing is in her blood!

[mathematicianadda]

Families Share What’s Working in Learning from Home

I’m sure you’ve all seen the memes about parent frustration with “the new way” of doing math. While these jokes can be funny, asking parents to take on the role of teacher has put a serious mental and emotional strain on many families. 

I know in my family—with two parents working full time from home, a first grader, and a maniac of a three year old—it’s been a challenge, and every day is a little different. 

But I recognize my own privilege in this situation. We have two incomes and a roof over our heads. Our internet service is reliable. We have devices enough for everyone, and plenty of food to eat. If even my family finds this time difficult, it’s heartbreaking to see and hear what immense challenges other families are facing. 

We asked parents to tell us a bit more about how their families are learning from home—what’s been challenging and what has worked for them. Most of these tips are broadly applicable, but there are a few comments specific to ST Math. 

Predictable, but flexible

The number one thing I heard was the importance of predictability and flexibility in equal measure. 

“Without a school day to provide a backbone to the daily schedule, the kids seem to be much less independent workers than they usually are,” said Erica Parsons in Maryland. “I have to provide a lot of motivation that is usually unnecessary.”

It’s good to have a general schedule or plan for the day, but a strict schedule seems to frustrate more families than it helps. Writing out a quick checklist of their daily work, even just the subjects, can help them monitor their own learning and motivate them to check everything off for the day. 

Older children may need time management help with larger projects. “While our son can do much of his schoolwork independently, without the need for us to "teach" him the concepts, he needs a lot of supervision in spacing out his work over the week,” said Fiona Yung in New York City.

The same idea of “predictable, but flexible” holds true for the workspace your child uses. If space allows, it can be helpful to set up a stocked workstation away from siblings and the TV. But it can also help—especially if your child is frustrated—to switch up their environment. For example, we did art assignments in the backyard last week and it was just the breath of fresh air that my son and I needed. 

Follow their lead

“I think we’ve had the most success when we’ve followed each child’s interests. For the three year old, that’s anything to do with Frozen—reading, singing, dress up, arts and crafts, and even the occasional alphabet (“What letter does Anna start with?”),” said Divya Mani in Vermont. “For the six year old, we’ve discovered lots of awesome podcasts, found ways to do more challenging math, and given him lots of Lego time (including creating a “chore economy” so he can earn new sets).” 

Me: Do you want to do @STMath or build something with your tiles? Azella: why not both? Me: (gets into long explanation of why you can’t multitask...) Azella: pic.twitter.com/3IVEvRv4BO

— Jaime Casap (@jcasap) May 2, 2020

  In my house, my first grader is super interested in cooking. He wants to understand baking in particular, so I challenged him to make cookies with only the 1/4 cup measuring scoop. It was a fun opportunity to work in a math lesson while mom got cookies to stress eat after the kids went to bed. 

One-on-one connection

While parents may feel harried and pulled in many different directions throughout the day, many reported feeling good about spending more one-on-one time with their children, whether that time was spent learning, playing, or just being together. 

That personal attention also extends to teacher interactions, said Christine Ciampini in the Bahamas. “Both kids continue to feel very supported by their teachers. They actually get a little more one-on-one time [than in the classroom], which really motivates them,” she said. 

In addition to that connection, feedback from teachers has been important to maintaining student motivation, explained Ms. Yung. “Our son’s second-grade teacher does not let remote learning get in the way of the level of work she knows our son can do, refuses to let him submit sub-par work, and gives immediate feedback on excellent work, which has motivated our son to work hard, even on subjects he does not like. Working on his first multi-week writing assignment was tough going, but he was really proud of what he submitted, especially as his teacher gave him true feedback every step of the way.”

Technology tips and challenges

A lot of schools are using learning management programs like Seesaw, Canvas, and Schoology. Some of the assignments on these platforms may be interactive or annotatable, but it can be hard for little fingers to be precise. The iPad doesn’t come with a stylus, but many of us have one in the house from other tech, and it makes a world of difference when writing or drawing on the screen. 

Parents whose schools don’t rely on a central system have reported frustration with different platforms and links. “Signing in to so many classes has been a challenge. I wish there was a more consolidated way to sign in, one that didn’t require as many meeting IDs and passwords,” said Ms. Ciampini.

Band together

Sometimes, parents just need an easy way to share information or frustration—problem solving as a group is much easier than muddling through it alone. “The parents in my second grader’s class have put together a Slack channel and we use it a lot to confer on homework issues that we don’t understand,” said Ms. Parsons. “It’s been really helpful. Sometimes the problems are literally, ‘English isn’t my first language, what does this mean?’ And sometimes it’s more, ‘someone explain again the difference between perpendicular and intersecting sets of lines.’”

Math anxiety

And with questions like that, you start to see the roots of one of the biggest emotional challenges that families face: math anxiety. 

Math is very often taught in a way that focuses on calculations and rote memorization. As a result, many people have a poor relationship with math, as they have only experienced it in a very limited way. Parents often feel like they are not a math person, like they don’t get it, like math is just not their thing. Unfortunately, not only is this math anxiety hard to get past, it’s also very easy to transfer to the next generation. 

If you’re confronted with your kid’s math homework and your first reaction is to say, “Uggghhh,” your child has picked up that math is yucky and dismissable. 

Even professional teachers can struggle with math anxiety! 

One of the best ways to move past it is to acknowledge the challenge and reset your outlook on math with a fresh perspective. You are not alone in your frustration, and there is a way forward. 

Sharing perspectives and stories

We have two communities on Facebook for ST Math users—one focused on school, and a new one launched in March that is focused on home. I’ve been so inspired by the comments shared by parents in the home community, which has grown to over 900 members in just a few weeks. 

The community has parents who are new to homeschool, parents whose children have IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), parents whose children have dyscalculia, parents who are seasoned homeschoolers, and everyone in between. I am so encouraged by the messages of positivity we read from these parents, who are seeing the difference that ST Math’s visual approach to developing deep conceptual understanding can make for their children. They are also relieved that ST Math does not require extensive hand-holding by the adult, and that students can progress at their pace and in a way that meets their individual needs. 

But it was an email message from one parent, Nadia Ahlsten, that really made me and so many others on the MIND team proud. Ms. Ahlsten said, “I just want to thank you for providing ST Math during this crazy time! Two of my sons have IEPs with our school. All my sons and my daughter have been working on ST Math. I think it is really improving their number sense and understanding of math. One of my sons I think has dyscalculia. I’m diagnosing him myself but it is really amazing how he’s taken to doing ST Math. It’s working with him and is so neutral/positive in its response to his work. It’s a very healthy learning interaction.”

She continued, “I’m not sure I have the patience of your program and so seeing how he’s learning and not feeling defeated is really really encouraging to me. Math should be how it is with ST Math. You’ve found a way that really works for those kids that often feel like maybe math just isn’t for them.”

Math should be how it is with ST Math. You’ve found a way that really works for those kids that often feel like maybe math just isn’t for them.

Your tips, please!

At MIND Research Institute, we believe every student has the potential to deeply understand, and truly love math. This belief drives all of us—researchers, educators, mathematicians, game designers—to make ST Math the best program it can be. 

In addition to the Facebook community, we have a parent resources page that provides more information for families on grappling with math anxiety, on how to use ST Math, and much more. We've also created a glossary for new math teachers - you can download it here: 

Download the Glossary of Mathematical Terms

Families, what did I miss? What tips do you have to share, and what resources can we provide to make things easier for you?

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